In this issue - May 4, 2012

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MBOT NEWS

MBOT Hosts Exclusive Roundtable/Town Hall with
Tim Hudak, Leader of the Ontario PC Party 

(Ellen McGregor, Grant Clark, Tim Hudak, Sheldon Leiba)

Mississauga Board of Trade (MBOT) hosted a business roundtable/town hall meeting with Tim Hudak, Ontario PC leader on Thursday, April 19, 2012 at The Old Barber House, Mississauga.
 

This exclusive event was a special opportunity for invited members of the local business community to hear firsthand from the Leader of the Opposition in Ontario on his thoughts and perspectives relating to the provincial economy, economic outlook, policy positions, and comments on the recently announced Ontario provincial budget. Business participants in attendance had the opportunity to share their input and feedback, as well as engage in discussions on matters affecting their businesses.
 

While the roundtable/town hall set up is nothing new for Mr. Hudak it was a new, interesting and fun experience for some of the business people in attendance, but the message from both Mr. Hudak and the business community remained serious. Sunil Aneja, Strategic Facilitators, opened up the question period bringing into question the PCs economic and strategic platform asking if there was any real difference between the PC and Liberal platform. Mr. Hudak replied with a yes- he believes there are significant differences between the two parties- the three key differences being:

1. Cutting spending not increasing to balance the budget
2. Reducing business taxes in order to attract capital
3. Energy policies at their core are economic policy issues

Mr. Hudak candidly answered questions from the local business community & interest groups for over an hour, but if there was one message he wanted them to tale with them it was fiscal responsibility stating the Province has to get its spending in check; citing the private sector as an good example.

MBOT Hosts Local MPs to Discuss 2012 Federal Budget

 
 

 

(MP Bob Dechert, Grant Clark, MP Wladyslaw Lizon, MP Brad Butt, MP Eve Adams,
Peter Nogalo, Sheldon Leiba)

 

 

 

On Thursday April 12th Mississauga Board of Trade (MBOT) assembled its Policy & Government Affairs Committee (which meets monthly) & guests to discuss the recent announcement of the 2012 Federal Budget with local MPs:

• The Honourable Bob Dechert, M.P. (Mississauga- Erindale), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
• The Honourable Brad Butt, M.P. (Mississauga- Streetsville)
• The Honourable Eve Adams, M.P. (Mississauga-Brampton South), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs
• The Honourable Wladyslaw Lizon, M.P. (Mississauga East-Cooksville) 

The MPs discussed highlights of the budget, which included: 

• Investment in R&D
• Extension of Hiring Credit for Business Owners
• Federal Health Care Transfers
• EI Credits
• Old Age Security Benefits 

Topics of interest from the committee were varied ranging from tax components on RRSP's to initiatives in place to encourage entrepreneurs in Canada. Minhaj Quiwai, uNet Group Inc, and member of MBOT's Policy & Government Affairs Committee asked what is being done to bring business into Canada, for example, Doctors. MP Bob Dechert noted that there is work being done at the Foreign Credential Referral Office to make sure foreign trained professionals, such as doctors are receiving the appropriate help. MP Wladyslaw Lizon noted though that such professions are regulated by professional associations and not the federal government. For example, even Canadian citizens who go to school out of the country must obtain the proper credential recognition when they return to Canada.

 

The meeting proved to be beneficial for both the MPs and the committee as it gave both parties the chance to learn the others priority list, as well as share ideas on how to grow Canada's economy-MBOT is excited to see what changes or initiatives may arise from the meeting.

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ONe-Source Web Portal Makes it Easier to do Business in Ontario

(Mr. Pabla, Ajmer Pabla, Minister Takhar, Allan O'Dette, Sheldon Leiba)

Mississauga Board of Trade (MBOT) applauds the Government of Ontario for taking steps to make it faster and easier for new and small businesses to get the services and information they need to start, operate and grow.
 

ONe-Source for Business, the new, online government services to business portal will help businesses customize services and information and retain valuable data from multiple interactions with the government.
 

Mr. Harinder S. Takhar, Minister of Government Services recently unveiled ONe source at local Mississauga business Brar Sweets Restaurant. The event was emceed by MBOT President & CEO, Sheldon Leiba and was attended by the local business community and stakeholders including the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) President & CEO Allan O'Dette.
 

"This province was built on, and continues to thrive because of, small and medium-sized businesses. Any service that houses easy to find information in a single location makes a huge difference for new businesses in terms of time and cost-savings, and that's going to help grow the economy," said Ontario Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Allan O'Dette.
 

To date, more than 10,000 businesses have registered for the Province's ONe-Source for Business service. The online portal provides quick and easy access to over 5,000 services and information from all levels of government, allowing small business owners to focus on creating jobs and competing in the global economy.
 

ONe-Source addresses many of the common frustrations that businesses encounter when interacting with government:
 

1. Easily search across multiple sources of information to get a customized listing of forms, services and programs relevant to your specific business needs - Saving hours of research time each year.

2. Find, fill in and submit forms electronically eliminating the need to print, fill in tombstone information and mail in forms.

3. Keep track of relationships and accounts with various government programs - making it easier to know where businesses stand in terms of being in compliance with a variety of programs.

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ITS in Mississauga Online Employer
Resource Featured Videos: Part 2

ITS (Internationally Trained & Skilled) in Mississauga is a program funded by the Ontario Government, an initiative of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, and is part of the Global Experience at Work Program. The objective of ITS in Mississauga is to create and increase awareness amongst employers on the benefits of hiring Internationally Trained Professionals. Through the program Mississauga Board of Trade has identified barriers & challenges businesses face when hiring foreign trade professionals. We then explored and identified key service support agencies that are able to help navigate employers through the process of hiring Internationally Trained Professionals.
 

For the ease and convenience of employers each agency was individually profiled at www.itsinmississauga.ca under "Employer Resource", but we didn't stop there, we also travelled to their offices and filmed them to discuss the services they provide and how they have helped local businesses (employers who have used their services were also interviewed). This installments featured videos are Career Edge Organization and RBC.

Some services provided by Career Edge Organization are:

• Mentoring & Coaching
• Recruitment & Retention
• HR Services

 

MBOT- Career Edge Organization (An Employer Resource)

 

 

MBOT- RBC discusses their experience with Career Edge's 'Career Bridge' Program

 

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MBOT EVENTS 

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COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS 

Southern Ontario Process and Automation Show

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Mississauga, ON L5W 1G3

It's Not About the Money! 

Thursday, May 17, 2012
11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Ontario Racquet Club (ORC)
884 Southdown Road
Mississauga, ON 

This unique event features Linda Somers, M.Ed, Legacy Coach, who shares her personal experience and insights about the pitfalls of estate planning. Linda partnered with creative drama centre for older adults at Ryerson University, to develop "The Accidental Inheritance", a play with a humorous look at what happens when the long term consequences of estate planning are not considered.

You will leave this session with insights into:

• The traps of estate planning
• Benefits of inter-generational communication
• Preventing family disputes about your will 

This is a FREE event. Seating is limited.

Please RSVP to [email protected].

Please click here to view event flyer.

BUSINESS MARKETPLACE